Hurricanes 3, Maple Leafs 1

February 14, 2013|Reuters

The Sports Xchange

Hurricanes 3, Maple Leafs 1

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Joe Corvo, Jussi Jokinen and Jordan Staal scored in the Carolina Hurricanes' three-goal second period in a 3-1 victory against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night at sold-out PNC Arena.

The Southeast Division-leading Hurricanes stopped Toronto's four-game winning streak, claiming their third victory in a row and their fifth in their last six outings.

Dan Ellis was back in goal for the Hurricanes after five-game absence while Cam Ward went 4-0-1 during that span. Ellis stopped 22 shots.

Corvo, who was a healthy scratch 10 nights earlier when the Hurricanes won in Toronto, lifted a shot past goalie Ben Scrivens slightly more than six minutes into the second period. He benefitted from the attention given teammate Eric Staal, who was knocked down near the crease as he battled for the puck. When the puck popped out of the scrum, Corvo was alone for a shot.

Jokinen, who was scoreless in the first 11 games, scored the go-ahead goal on a Carolina power play. He has goals in back-to-back games.

Jordan Staal scored off a rebound of Jeff Skinner's breakaway shot.

Toronto has failed to score more than one goal in any of its last three losses, two of those coming to the Hurricanes. The Maple Leafs were unbeaten since the Feb. 4 meeting with Carolina.

Eric Staal's assist on the first goal stretched the captain's points streak to 11 games.

Scrivens had 30 saves.

NOTES: Toronto goalie James Reimer is on injured reserve with a knee injury suffered in the second period of team's previous game Monday night against Philadelphia. Goaltender Jussi Rynnas was recalled from the Toronto Marlies and was the backup Thursday night. ... Carolina RW Chad LaRose missed his first game of the season. He was a healthy scratch after managing one goal without an assist so far this season. ... The Hurricanes also were without injured defenseman Tim Gleason (lower body) and defenseman Joni Pitkanen (lower body), who both played in all 12 previous games. Defenseman Michal Jordan, 22, was called up from Charlotte of the AHL to make his NHL debut. ... This was the Hurricanes' first game since a six-game road trip that produced nine points. ... Toronto RW Colton Orr and Carolina RW Kevin Westgarth picked up fighting majors barely more than two minutes into the game.